When a person steps through the door and enters Sultan Bakery and Grill in Murrieta, they’ll probably see the polished tables and swept floors and they’ll likely smell the fragrance of exotic spices wafting in from behind the counter where a myriad of Lebanese and Syrian dishes are prepared.

Here people will find all sorts of dishes that hail from the Middle East such as hummus, kabob shawarma and baklava. In addition to these more familiar staples, the menu offers up a variety of flat breads that are prepared with fresh toppings and cooked only after a customer orders.

Almost everything the bakery and grill makes is composed of fresh ingredients, according to Sultan’s owner, Tony. He said he’s always cooking up fresh batches of hummus, pita and garlic paste among a number of other items. Nothing is left to sit and nothing is more than a day old.

But in the case of Tony’s restaurant, fresh doesn’t always mean easy. His hummus takes many hours to create. Chick peas are soaked for a full day in water before being boiled, ground and combined with a list of ingredients that includes tahini, lemon, salt and more.

For Tony, food is a labor of love. His restaurant is a means by which to share the foods of his homeland in Lebanon and his wife’s homeland in Syria.

He said they decided to start a restaurant in November of 2013 because they wanted to have a place that not only offered traditional food staples like kabobs, but also a place that would offer up a variety of baked goods.

Many area restaurants specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine might offer one or the other, he said, but not a combination of the two types of food.

Sultan’s versatile offering of traditional foods has been a big draw and has brought in people from all over Southwest Riverside. Normally these individuals might drive far outside of county lines just to go to a restaurant with similar food offerings, according to Tony.

“They’re very excited we came into this area,” Tony said. “They usually drive all the way to San Diego, Los Angeles or Anaheim to get these kinds of items.”

Tony said the dishes are a big hit with members of the Arab Community, who come to try traditional dishes that are a part of their heritage.

But the restaurant also gets a large number of individuals who are completely new to Lebanese and Syrian food items, and when that happens Tony and other individuals associated with the bakery are willing to give them a crash course.

“I give them a little input on the menu and they usually try something,” Tony said. “Then after that time they feel comfortable coming in here, they feel like this is home, and they try something different every single time.”

One of the menu items Tony recommends is the Zaatar and Cheese Flatbread. Zaatar is a mixture of thyme, sesame seed, sumac and extra virgin olive oil; this mixture is spread over half of a pita bread and a combination of three different cheeses is spread over the other half.

Another popular item that Tony said customers enjoy is the Chicken and Cheese Flatbread. Chicken is mixed with a Lebanese sauce characteristically similar to chipotle and poured over the flattened bread and three cheese spread.

For those looking to get a taste of something both sweet and sour, there’s Sfeeha. This dish has a layering of finely ground beef with pine nuts, onion and tomato on a freshly baked pita bread. Yogurt and pomegranate syrup give the dish its sweet and sour components.

The food may be what draws customers in time and time again, but Tony said being kind is also important. He said he likes to make customers feel at home and is always eager to greet them.

“That’s just the way I am,” he said.

Sultan Bakery and Grill is located at 25285 Madison Avenue, Suite 106 in Murrieta. For more information, call (949) 354-9110.

With summer days upon us, what better time to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee, a fresh pastry, and sink down into a cushy chair. You probably don’t recognize the name – not yet, but at the Espresso Lounge – formerly Café Primo – you can do just that – relax and enjoy coffee and pastries. The energetic and personable proprietor, Faro Trupiano, welcomes guests to his newly acquired establishment.

Trupiano was presented with the business opportunity at the right time. He had been a long-time customer of Café Primo and enjoyed the establishment’s ambiance. “No one was stressed or in a hurry, people felt very comfortable and relaxed. It was a serene feeling to be here.”

It also fit in with his vision to revitalize the downtown area, and bring even more restaurant choices to the area.

This is Trupiano’s fourth restaurant venture – so how does he manage it all? “I have to give the credit to my staff – I have such great people,” he explained, “It is overwhelming at times, but the response and appreciation from the people makes it all worthwhile.”

There will be some changes, but the restaurateur still wants to maintain the serene atmosphere. “I want to convey a feeling of relaxation,” he said.

Trupiano is taking his pastries to a “new level” and is introducing scones and cinnamon rolls, plus gourmet Italian desserts such as tiramisu and cannoli. Look for some heavenly dessert surprises such as crème brûlée.

This coffee house just got a shot of vitality in the form of Café Virtuoso coffee beans roasted locally in San Diego and grown organically in premium coffee growing regions worldwide. Espresso Lounge is using Café Virtuoso for the espresso machine as well as for drip coffee.

As soon as you shut your car door and start for the Espresso Lounge, the scent of coffee leads the way; and once you order coffee or pastries and are enveloped by a comfortable couch or lounge chair – your day will definitely be better!

The Espresso Lounge is located at 139 S Main Ave., Fallbrook. The telephone number is (760) 731-1012.

The array of unique food items offered each year at the San Diego County Fair at Del Mar can be many things – enticing, interesting, and in some cases, even shocking to the average consumer. But one thing it always is – is worthy of conversation.

County fairs and carnivals have long had the reputation for offering certain treats – perhaps some of the most popular being cotton candy, corndogs, and funnel cakes.

For many, it’s the time they indulge in fascinating foods that are best consumed sparingly – since many are fried, extra sweet, and high in fat. However, as time marches on, vendors are introducing healthier, fresh fare in an effort to appeal to all types of consumers. It’s easy to say a fair wouldn’t be as entertaining without the fabulous scents that fill the air from the colorful booths.

According to staffers in Del Mar, this year the public won’t be disappointed as even more new choices will be presented at “The Fab Fair,” taking place June 7 through July 6. But don’t worry, the year-after-year favorites will be plentiful as well.

Triple Decker Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger

Looking for a sweet and high-protein lunch? The Triple Decker Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger features three hamburger patties and three slices of cheese between two Krispy Kreme glazed donuts. It’s hard to imagine how that all stays together when eating it, but undoubtedly there will be many to accept the challenge. It can be found at Chicken Charlie’s on the concourse.

Cauliflower Sandwich

In the Plaza de Mexico at Grinders, this sandwich will be worth taking a look for many veggie lovers. It starts with a toasted bread roll spread with aioli and drizzled with honey. In that they place a thick, baked slice of cauliflower, melted cheese, and very thin slices of apple. Interesting use of a vegetable at the Fair!

Lobster Fried Rice

Asian food lovers are bound to be lined up outside the Lobster Shack in the infield (Family Funville) at the Fair for its Lobster Fried Rice. Expect this tasty dish to be a successful mingling of ingredients that is easy for all ages in the family to enjoy.

Smoked Jack Daniels Bacon-Wrapped Churro

If it’s Fair time, it means something new is being wrapped in bacon! In this case, they begin by infusing a churro with Jack Daniels whiskey. Then they wrap it with a slice of smoked bacon. Aptly named, it can be found at the Bacon-A-Fair booth, and it isn’t the only new item this year! They also have a Chocolate Peanut Butter Bacon Banana, and a Bacon Wrapped Zucchini.

The Cowboy Sundae is housed in a crispy waffle cone shaped like a cowboy hat! The inside is filled with ice cream and the whole treat is topped with “cowboy candles,” such as candied chiles.

Banana Foster Pie is built on a waffle crust. Ice cream or frozen yogurt is then stacked on top. Sliced bananas compose the next layer along with sinful caramel sauce and sweet whipped cream.

For those who like to admire strategic layering, the Black and White Sundae is an artistic creation of alternating segments of chocolate and vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and fluffy marshmallows.

To read more about this year’s Fair – food, attractions, exhibits, entertainment, and more, visithttp://www.sdfair.com.